NSBNEWS.net: Volusia County / State

DAYTONA BEACH -- A 28-year-old woman inmate at the Volusia County Branch Jail wa found unconscious and died Wednesday morning, the Volusia County Sherigff's Office reported.

No foul play is suspected in the death of Tracy Lee Veira, who was found unresponsive shortly after 10 a.m. , but autopsy results were not yet available Friday, said Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson, who added there were "no signs of trauma to her body."

DAYTONA BEACH -- Personnel from Volusia County Fire Services, Daytona Beach Fire Department and Holly Hill Fire Department responded at 3:48 a.m. to the report of a fire at 1310 Forest Ridge Drive, in unincorporated Volusia County near Daytona Beach.

The single family home was 50-percent involved when crews arrived on scene. Eleven units responded to the call.

No other structures surrounding the home were affected. Crews report that approximately 50-percent of the structure was damaged.

ORMOND BEACH -- A 61-year Ormond Beach man drowned in a pool at the apartment complex where he lived, Ormond Beach police said Wednesday.

The body og Gerard Farley was found just after 1:15 p.m. Wednesday by a friend at the bootom of the pool at the Thousand Oaks Apartments, 203 S. Orchard St., police said. Police said the death is apparently medically related, but an autopsy was ordered to confirm that, which is standard procedure considering the circumstances.

DEBARY -- Master Gardener Howard Jeffries will teach a free Florida Landscape Maintenance Course at the DeBary Hall Historic Site every Thursday from Oct. 1 through Nov. 5. The classes will be from 1 - 3:30 p.m. in the stables.

Participants will learn about lawn care, mulching, winter protection, proper pruning techniques, pest control, how to install plants, and
management of water and fertilizer. Jeffries will give demonstrations and answer questions about personal landscaping problems.

Courtesy photo/Polk County jail mug. Mia Morrison, 29, of Ormond Beach, was among 28 people Tuesday in a Polk County prostitution sting.

BARTOW -- A 29-year-old Ormond Beach woman was among 28 people arrested Tuesday in a Polk County prostitution sting targeting women advertising themselves on craigslist, the trendy classified advertising Web site.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Citing the effects of a national recession, International Speedway Corp., owner of Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona 500, has cut 50 jobs in its corporate and business offices.

ISC spokesman Lenny Santiago said the cuts, some through attrition, were "in response to unprecedented and protracted economic declines" that have "led us to realign or restructure a number of functions."

That hasn't stopped ISC from moving ahead with plans to open a $591 million casino in Kansas City, Kansas, at its track there.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A mother ran to a nearby business to call 9-1-1 with her 9-month-old baby boy in her arms after she realized he wasn't breathing, Daytona Beach police said. The baby was pronounced dead at the scene by EVAC paramedics.

The mother, who lives in the vicinity of Mason Avenue and Edwards Street ran to the nearby Daytona Collision, 825 Edwards St., after checking on her sleeping baby and realizing he was not breathing, poilice said of the incident just before 3:30 p.m.

DELAND -- The River of Lakes Heritage Corridor Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity will meet at 8:30 a.m. Monday. The meeting will be in the first-floor training room of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave.

Committee chairs will give reports, and Garry Balogh of the Florida Department of Transportation will discuss the scenic highways visioning process and signs.

For more information or accommodation, please call Chris French at (386) 736-5953, ext. 6742.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Law enforcement turned up the heat on criminals in East Volusia Thursday night during a multi-agency street crimes operation that resulted in 35 arrests and the issuance of 51 traffic citations, Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

The Sheriff's Office organized the operation, which was designed to target street crimes, known criminal suspects and wanted persons, high traffic locations and individuals with gang ties.

Courtesy photo. Robert Jackman, 39, no address given, was arrested Monday on charges of robbing two convenience stores in the Daytona Beach area with a handgun.

DAYTONA BEACH -- An apologetic thief robbed two convenience stores near Daytona Beach on Labor Day morning, but was caught with the stolen goods just under half an hour after the second robbery behind another convenience store, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.